Free Her Royal Bed by Laura Wright

immediately, “Let me help you with those, Mrs. Al-Nayhal.”
    â€œThanks,” Rita said, still sounding slightly uneasy, though she smiled pleasantly as he took the bag, then pushed the stroller through the store as they all walked along.
    â€œSo what are you shopping for?” Jane asked him, clearly wondering why he had come to search her out just hours after they’d seen each other.
    â€œA new toaster.”
    At his grin, Jane laughed.
    Bobby felt like the back end of an ass right now. He hated lying, especially as he stared straight into those bright-green eyes of Jane’s, but his vow demanded that he use whatever means necessary to accomplish his goal. He knew that Sakir hated him, which probably meant that his wife felt less than fine with Bobby dating Jane. And Bobby needed to see Jane without any chance of interference. If Rita approved of him, helped Jane to cast aside any doubts about his sincerity, then they would have the time it took for a woman to fall in love. Just the thought of having Rita Al-Nayhal on his side, thinking him a good man—even telling her husband so—made a warlike smile break on his face.
    â€œYou missed me, didn’t you?”
    Jane’s query ripped him away from his thoughts. When he raised his eyebrows to her teasing smile, she added, “It’s okay to admit. It won’t crush your masculinity.”
    Bobby chuckled. “I’m in a ladies’ department store. I think my masculinity’s already been compromised.”
    Beside them, Rita cuddled Daya and sang softly to her as Bobby continued, though he felt the woman’s gaze on him from time to time. “Truth is, darlin’, after I dropped you off, I realized that we hadn’t decided what we’re doing tonight.”
    â€œDoing tonight?” Jane repeated, rubbing her chin in mock thoughtfulness. “I don’t recall—”
    â€œOh, c’mon, Jane,” Bobby interrupted with an arrogant smile. “You know as well as I do that we’re spending the night together.” He turned to Rita then, gave her a wicked grin. “Pardon me, ma’am.”
    For a moment Bobby wondered if his take-what-you-want attitude offended Rita, but it didn’t seem to. And after all, she was married to Sakir Al-Nayhal.
    â€œNo pardons necessary,” Rita said at last, a cautious, though far more friendly smile tugging at her mouth. “This old married woman with a baby is gonna take off for a little bit. Be over here if you need me.” She turned away from them and pushed the stroller over to the linens section.
    A wave of triumph moved through Bobby. He’d made some headway here, made a few new and improved impressions that Rita would no doubt share with her husband. He turned back to Jane. She was smiling at him, familiar and open, with that touch of humor that made him want to kiss her and talk to her at the same time. Damn, why did he have to want her this way? Why couldn’t she have been anybody but who she was?
    â€œSomething you wanna ask me, cowboy?” she teased.
    â€œHow about dinner tonight, maybe a moonlit ride?”
    â€œI’m not the greatest horsewoman.”
    â€œYou’ll be fine,” he insisted.
    â€œHow can you be so sure?”
    â€œBecause,” he said, moving closer to her, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “I’m going to teach you how to ride.”
    Jane felt her skin turn hot with his blatant innuendo. Here they were, standing in the middle of a crowded store with sales people pushing half-price sweaters,laughter and cries emerging from the many baby strollers around them, and all Jane could think about was lying horizontal on something moderately soft, with Bobby’s mouth on hers.
    â€œCome with me now,” he murmured, his eyes liquid and hot.
    The push to say yes was almost torturous, but Jane forced herself to decline. “I can’t,” she explained with a